Candidate Drops out of Mayor’s Race

Columbia, S.C. (WOLO)–Larry Sypolt announced Monday that he has ended his campaign for mayor of Columbia.

  Sypolt made the announcement Monday afternoon at Columbia Police Dept. head quarters along side current mayor, and Sypolt’s former opponent Steve Benjamin.

  At the news conference Sypolt said, ” I think it is a disservice to the community, for Steve (Benjamin) and I, if we’ve got the same vision, to run against each other.”

  The lone remaining candidate, Moe Baddourah, says today’s event, “sends the wrong message about our priorities to hold a campaign press conference at the police department while failing to address our very basic public safety challenges.”

  Mayor Benjamin also announced today that Sypolt will chair a committee that will bring together community-wide input on fighting crime.